Airmiles Consolidation

Goramanche

Hello, I have a small stash of Avios (7500), I have some Virgin miles and I have some Flying Blue miles, along with a stack of AMEX points (60,000). I want to put them into one scheme which should provide more chance of free flights; my choice would be Virgin to go to the States. Has anyone combined their miles before and what's the best scheme to go for? Thanks.

Caz3121

you cannot combine miles between these programs

SW17

Caz3121 wrote: »

you cannot combine miles between these programs

If the Amex points are Membership Rewards points, you can transfer them to any one of Flying Blue, Virgin Atlantic or Avios (Avios would be via BA Exec Club). You cannot transfer between FB, Virgin or Avios.

As to which is best, it comes down to which one would work best for redeeming the specific reward you want. Be aware that in the case of Avios with BA, redemption requirements are changing for any bookings made after 28 April.

Amex Membership Rewards occasionally offer a miles boost when transferring points to certain other programmes, but it's not predictable when this will happen, or which partners would be in the offer.

PeacefulWaters

You won't be getting free flights with them because taxes and other fees will still get charged.

I'd suggest:

1) Getting the Avios up to 9,000 for each return flight to Europe you're likely to book (so 18,000 for two seats).

2) Pricing up the number of Virgin miles needed for posher seats across the pond an focus on achieving that ASAP.

chancesare_2

7.5k is indeed small. As has been said, the flights you redeem are not free. You select the bucket and pay the taxes, but the reward redemption is based on the bucket fare.

I've just booked VS UC 'G fare' (free in your terminology) return to Barbados. It was 100K miles and £448 taxes per adult.

malkie76

The reward saver flights come at a far reduced tax/fees rates, which brings you far closer to a free flight with just a few more miles.

Caz3121 wrote: »

you cannot combine miles between these programs

Not technically true - you can convert VS miles to HHonors points, then convert HHonors points to Avois. The exchange rate makes it not worth it, which is why people rarely talk about it.

AMEX points are a straight forward conversion to Avois.

chancesare_2

malkie76 wrote: »

The reward saver flights come at a far reduced tax/fees rates, which brings you far closer to a free flight with just a few more miles.



Not technically true - you can convert VS miles to HHonors points, then convert HHonors points to Avois. The exchange rate makes it not worth it, which is why people rarely talk about it.

AMEX points are a straight forward conversion to Avois.

It isn't so much that people rarely talk about it, more that only a fool would covert them.

InsideInsurance

chancesare wrote: »

It isn't so much that people rarely talk about it, more that only a fool would covert them.

But still makes the statement that its impossible from Caz3121 incorrect, just highly inadvisable

Caz3121

my statement should have been you cannot transfer the miles directly between these programs; Flying Blue, Avios and Virgin
How many Flying Blue miles do you have? enough for a shorthaul flight?